ST. IGNATIUS HIGH SCHOOL - JACOB CIRCLE

ST. IGNATIUS HIGH SCHOOL - JACOB CIRCLE

STD X & IX Students Value Orientation

 The students of STD X and IX from St. Ignatius High School - jacob Cirle had the opportunity, especially during this centenary of their school's existence, to have a day's Value Orientation organized by AVEC. Mrs. Marita Borikar, Principal of the school welcomed the guest speakers while Teacher Susanna Mali presented floral bouquets to them. The studnets were in for a challenging session ahead.

The two sessions began with a prayerful moment and was enhanced by a prayer song followed by few moments of personal silence and meditation. The students were able to focus on thier inner landscape and reflect on their daily educative journey. 140 students of STD X focused on the theme:My Life - A Valued Journey, that was divided into four lively sessions of personl reflection: Listening attentively to the NOW, Revisitng their Past, reorganizing their Future and finally writing their Problems in Life.

 180 students of STD IX focused on 'My Life - A Valued Journey' with a special emphasis on choosing the higher values in life. Both the session were highly interactive and included a lot of inspiring testimonies of personalities who chose the higher value. The inspiring video clips and deep insights too challenged the students to live their life on a value based compass. 'Light house' students are those who who are able to live for their believe is good and noble. The short film '2+2=5' was really inspiring.

 At the end of the two sessions, spanning a period of nearly 150 minutes, the students were able to take up the challenge to reorganize their future and live their lives based on a value compass. All through the session, the students were really engrossed in the various inputs and reflections and once could sense a need for change. Many students came forward to write their comments in the AVEC appreciation book:

 "Father Glenn taught us what is truly important for our lives. Thanks"  Ankita Ghevade X
"Fr. Glenn's session really touched my heart and surely I will make a difference in my life" - Sharmeen Shaikh X
"Fr showed us to way to success and to live our life with a beautiful change" -  Sally Cardoz X

 "My life changed after this session like a clay moulded by an artist, the artist is you. Thank you Fr. Glenn" -  Sadiya Siddiqui X - A
"The seminar was real good and should be conducted in every school for students like us" -  Jasmine Shaikh X - B
"Thank you Fr for this session. i really liked it. from here I will now start changing my life" - Archana Jadhav X - B

 "Fr. your seminar was really very nice, I liked it. In future, I hope, I can be in contact with you and attend your seminars" -  Bharika Patel X B
"I really understod the value of values today because of your seminar held in our school. Thanks a lot" -  Tejal Kamtekar X B

 "It was a heart touching seminar, but it was you the prodigious guy who made it worth listening and attracted to it. Yes, I have changed drastically" -  Sana Kalaniya X A
"Happy, got the lesson for life so early... thanks Fr. Glenn" - Balsania Mohd Abid X - A

 "It was a heart touching event, excellent presentation that had a great impact on me. Special thanks to Fr. Glenford and Mr. Fernandes" -  Saleh Kamil X B

 "A special thanks to Fr. Glenford and Mr. Fernandes. I got a chance to learn from some great personality that will help in my life" - Ansari Asim X A

 "It was mind blowing and excellent seminar. It was a story of regret upon our life. We should change our journey on a right path. Thanks to Fr. Glenford and Mr. Fernandes and take care of your health" - Shah Osama X A

 On behalf of the students of STD X, Mr. Ajay Gupta proposed a very meaningful and sincere word of thanks.

 "Fr. Glenn taoghts us about the importance of life and challenged us to live it meaningfully" - IX

 "I will try to change my life course and also a lot of thanks to Fr. Glenn" - IX

Congratulations to all the students and we wish you all the best in your educative journey. Be blessed and may everyday bring a new sunshine of God's love, care and providence in your life. Study smart and make a diference by chosing the higher values in life.

CAMPION HIGH SCHOOL - FORT: TEACHERS' ORIENTATION PROGRAM

 CAMPION HIGH SCHOOL - FORT: TEACHERS' ORIENTATION PROGRAM

October 8, 2014: AVEC was back at Campion High School for the sixth time this sholastic year. Thanks to the school's principal, Mr. Paul Machado, that forty six teachers were able to attend a half day's Value Orientation Program on "My Life: A Valued Journey". After an initial word of welcome by Mr. Machado, a prayer song invoking God's abundant blessings for peace, good health and happiness was played.

Fr. Glenn Lowe, Director of AVEC, began the session on "My Life: A Valued Journey". The session invloved a lot of introspection, deep insigths and a creative PowerPoint presentation that accompanied it. "Once we shift from 'predictive thinking' to 'prospective thinking and living' our life becomes a valued Journey", he began. Predictive thinking is bounded by limitations and stagnation, we get what we always got because we do what we always did! Propsective thinking and living, on the other hand, is launching into the unknown but founded on the sure principles of values that never change. Prospective living is experiencing 'prafulta' in our lives.

 Fr. Glenn then focused on two important points: 'Eureka Moments' and 'Caramba Moments' in one's journey of life. He took the time to expand on the need to turn our 'Caramba Moments' into "Eureka Miracles'. Eureka moments happen when we ride the tide of change and transformation happens because of me. Caramba moments are when we becomes victims of the tide around us and we are left behind living a life of regret and blame.

 He then took us through a number of inspiring lives, of people who turned their 'caramba moments' into 'eureka miracles'. The lives of Ms. Kia Scherr, Immaculee Ilibagiza, Malala Yousafzai, Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa were apt examples of people who made 'qualitative changes' because of their alignment to live a value based life.

 The next stage focused on the mindsets of young people today and the 'caramba' world they live in. He touched upon six pain points of the young today. The primary role of an educator today is to enter into the world of these young people today and to accompany them in their journey of life as 'travelling companions'. To make qualitative changes around us, we first need to look at our own persoanl life and value system that guides us along the path of life.

The final part of the program focused on the personal journey of every teacher. Through the  important aspects of one's life: the present 'Now' moment, the past 'Spiral of Life' and the future 'Wheel of Life' exercise the participants were able to honestly guage the quality of their personal life and make choices to live more proactively and meaningfully. Only then will we be able to discover the 'star' within.

 At the end of the session, two powerful video clips were presented concerning the much value needed environment in a classrooom and the city of Mumbai too. The session ended with a vote of thanks proposed by Mr. Sunil Almeida. A token of appreciation was also presented to each of the resource persons by the school principal, Mr. Paul Machado.

 "It was a really very interesting and touching session"

 "Thank you for this unique Eureka experience"

 "Many thanks for sharing your reflections with us. I am sure it will help both us and our students too"

"The best two hours ever!!
W O W ... Wisdom of the World...Feel LIT up. Wish for more... Please come again"

ST. TERESA'S INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION - SANTACRUZ: VALUE ORIENTATION

St. TERESA'S INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION - SANTACRUZ

VALUE EDUCATION ORIENTATION PROGRAM

September 30, 2014: Eighty six young students undergoing Teacher's Training at St. Teresa's B.Ed College, Santacruz, spent an entire morning having a Value Education Orientation program conducted by AVEC. Thanks to Sr. Lilian Rosario, Principal of the B.Ed College who made it possible to invite the resource personnel well in advance. After a brief introduction, and an opening prayer by Sr. Lilian, the students were taken through a spiritual moment led by Mr. Rochwyn Fernandes. The prayer song, 'Sarveshaam Swastir Bhavatu' and a fantasy meditation enabled the students to focus on the value of nourishing the spiritual dimension of one's personal life.

 Fr. Glenn Lowe then took over the next few hours. He invited the young teachers to challenge themselves with a greater preparedness to become more than mere 'dispensers of knowledge' to becoming 'beacons of Value promotion'. The entire first session focused on the need to make appropriate 'qualitative changes' rather than spending time on 'quantitative changes'. The many examples given: Ms. Kia Scherr, Ms. Malala Yousafzai, Mrs. Immaculee Ilibagiza, Mother Teresa, Mahatma Gandhi were inspiring too. The session focused on the need to stretch beyond the 'mere ordinary and littleness' and to launch into the realm of 'greatness'. Your students are entitled to a 'great teacher', not a 'little one'!

 The second session focused on how to make 'qualitative changes' in the lives of their students. The starting point comes on the power of one's WORD. "Your lifestyle is expressed through your word Change your 'word' and transform your 'world'.  This was very clearly brought out through the poem, 'Youth: A Lost Generation" by Jonathan Reid. The 'square puzzle' was another insightful exercise to challenge the students to have the courage to break old mind sets and to seek relevant solutions. 

The final part of the session, focused on aligning one's personal values with that of the institutional's values. Many of the young student-teachers shared their own personal experiences and even their own options to make qualitative changes. The entire day was an opportunity to make the necessary shifts in one's lifestyle, mindset and value system. The session included a lot of personal testimonies, deep insights, inspiring video clips, and an interesting PowerPoint presentation on the world and attitudes of the young people today.

 At the end of the session, Ms. Juveria Ghare proposed the Vote of thanks.

A number of students came forward to write their comments in the AVEC appreciation log book:

""Father, it was really an eye-opener and heart touching session. It would definitely make a difference in my teaching and as a whole to the society. Thanks for all your efforts" - Farhat Sayed

 "It was an experience listening to you once again. We appreciate your efforts to come and try to make a change in our mindsets. Thank you. Hoping to have you visit our college again" -  Priyanka Martis

 "It was an inspiring session you have given us. A dynamic and energetic person of God who opened our eyes as teachers to both intellectually as well as in character. Thank you Fr and God bless you" -  Sr. Betty FMA

 "Your session was very inspiring and an eye opener for all of us. It was great to have such a wonderful session even before our teaching has started" -  Fleur DSilva

 "It was an awesome session especially enabling each of us to think differently. Personally helped me in my way of thinking.  Thanks... for making a difference in my life" -  Sharon Parakal

 "I really enjoyed the session, especially the real life experiences that you shared with us. If ever in life, I come across students who appreciate and love me, I shall give your session all the credits! Thank you immensely" -  Lizann Lobo

 "I really enjoyed the workshop that you gave and I will always remember the video that you showed and I hope to become a teacher who makes qualitative changes in the lives of our students. Thank you again and God bless" -  Juveria Ghare

Congratulations to all the students and the management for making the time and giving us the opportunity to speak to your students. You well all so very cooperative and participate all through. Be blessed and thanks once again. May God bless you all as you prepare yourself to be effective and great educators of the young in your care.